Organization Anti-Hazing Policy

Definition:

IUP defines hazing as “any action, situation, activity, or complicity in activity, or any mental or physical requirement or request placed upon any pledge, member, affiliate, or alumnus/a, which causes or has the potential to cause: endangerment of the physical, emotional, or mental health or safety of the participant; physical or mental discomfort, pain, injury, fright, degradation, moral compromise, coerced sexual activity, or servitude; and/or the violation of any federal, state, or local law or rule or university policy, as directly or indirectly related to the initiation or admission into or affiliation with or continued membership in an IUP-recognized organization.”

The IUP definition of hazing includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Any activity which endangers or has the potential to endanger the physical health of participants, such as: paddling, whipping, kicking, striking, beating, pushing, shoving, tackling, branding, and calisthenics.

Any activity which endangers or has the potential to endanger the mental health and/or academic performance of participants, such as: not allowing adequate time for or interfering with academic commitments, activities conducted between the hours of midnight and 8:00 a.m., and forced exclusion from social and/or verbal contact with any other individual.

Any activity which is or has the potential to be physically or mentally harmful, painful, or injurious, such as: the forced or required consumption of alcohol, food, or drugs; excessive exposure to the elements; quests, scavenger hunts, kidnappings, or strandings; physical or psychological shock; and activities causing physical or mental fatigue.

Any activity which is or has the potential to be frightening, morally compromising, degrading, unduly embarrassing, deceptive, or promoting servitude, such as: throwing items at or on the participant; carrying of items or wearing of apparel which is undignified; public stunts, verbal harassment, and beratement; requiring the participant to yell when entering or departing a physical structure or in the presence of designated individuals; the designation of “pledge entrances or exits”; running personal errands or servitude; intentionally creating labor or cleanup work; scant clothing requirements or nudity at any time; and deception designed to convince the participant of impending pain, injury, or non-initiation.

Any activity which is in violation of any federal, state, or local law or rule or university policy, such as: the illegal use of alcohol or any controlled substance in any form or quantity as part of any pledge-related activity, and violation of IUP student behavior regulations, including unauthorized entry, “raids,” possession/theft/destruction/damage of property, improper obstruction/disruption of university activities, abuse/harassment, and disorderly/obscene conduct.

Presumptions:

Pledge-related activities by nature must reflect the best interests of the new members/pledges, the members of the organization, the university, and the Indiana community.

For the purposes of this policy, any activity or situation, upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with or continued membership in an IUP-recognized organization is directly or indirectly conditioned, shall be presumed to be “forced,” the willingness of an individual to participate notwithstanding.

The negligence or consent of the participant, or any assumption of risk by the participant, are not defenses to an action brought pursuant to this policy.

All IUP students and recognized organizations are responsible for abiding by this policy, both on campus and off campus, including privately owned facilities and/or property.

Recognized organizations are responsible for any activity in violation of this policy by any individual or group affiliated with the organization (pledge, member, auxiliary, or alumnus), unless it is proven that the group or individual activity was independent of and occurred without the knowledge or consent of the recognized organization. Such responsibility will apply equally to situations in which one or more members knew or should have known of the activity and failed to make every reasonable attempt to prevent or stop it.

The filing of charges by IUP against a recognized organization does not preclude the filing of charges at IUP against an individual student nor the filing of civil and/or criminal charges against the organization and/or individual.

Implementation:

The officers, primarily the president, of each organization are responsible for informing new members/pledges, members, affiliates, and appropriate alumni/ae of this policy. This policy should be read by the president to the membership at the first meeting of the organization each semester and to the new members/pledges prior to the commencement of the first new member/pledge activity and should be posted in a prominent place for the new members/pledges and members to see.

The Hazing Compliance Agreement portion of the Organization Recognition Form must be completed and submitted to the Office of Student Activities and Organizations, 104 Pratt Hall, within thirty (30) days of the commencement of Fall semester classes or the election of new officers to certify acknowledgement of all conditions of this policy.

All non-academic initiation or affiliation new member/pledge activities must be discontinued seven (7) days prior to the first day of the final examination period each semester and remain discontinued through the end of the final examination period.

Juristiction and Procedure:

Charges of violations of this policy by a recognized organization should be filed in the Office of Student Activities and Organizations. Charges of violations of this policy by an individual student should be filed in the Office of the Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Administrative hearings of alleged violations of this policy by a recognized organization will be conducted by the Recognized Organization Review Board, in accordance with policy as detailed in The Student Handbook.

In all cases of alleged violations of this policy, the organization advisor and general headquarters of the organization will be notified.

During the period of formal investigation or adjudication of alleged violations of this policy, all pledge-related activities, organization activities, and/or university recognition of the organization may be summarily suspended in keeping with university policy.

Administrative hearings of alleged violations of this policy by an IUP student will be conducted by the IUP Judicial System, in accordance with policy as detailed in The Student Handbook.

Violations and Sanctions:

Violations of this policy by a recognized organization normally will result in the minimum sanction of a one (1) semester probation, seven (7) weeks of social, intramural, and/or recognition benefits suspension and a revision of the organization’s new member/pledge education program, with a maximum sanction of withdrawal of university recognition from the organization for a period of twelve (12) consecutive regular academic semesters.

Repeated violation of this policy or violation of any probation enacted as a result of this policy by a recognized organization normally will result in the minimum sanction of a one (1) year probation and a one (1) semester suspension of social, intramural, and/or recognition benefits, with a maximum sanction of withdrawal of university recognition of the organization for a period of an additional twelve (12) consecutive regular academic semesters.

Violations of this policy by an IUP student will result in sanctions consistent with the IUP Judicial System, in accordance with policy defined in The Student Handbook or penalties authorized by Pennsylvania Law.

For violations of this policy by a recognized organization, sanctions shall be defined as follows:

Probation: A specified length of time in which repeated violation of this policy or violation of other specified policies results in increased sanctions against the organization; no additional sanctions are necessarily implied by the imposing of a probation.

Mandatory Activity: The required participation by the organization in specified group activity, service projects, educational programs, or other assignments.

Financial restriction: The repayment of the monetary value of damages, losses, or injuries within a specified period of time as a result of a violation of this policy.

Social Limitation or Suspension: A specific length of time in which the organization is denied formal or informal sponsorship of or participation in one or more of the following: inter- or intra-organizational social activities, formals, all-Greek or all-university events or activities, or any other event of a social nature.

Intramural Suspension: A specific length of time in which the organization may not participate in individual or team sports or the Greek intramural league, earn intramural points, or receive any championship titles.

Suspension of Recognition Benefits: A specific length of time in which the organization maintains university recognition but is denied one or more benefits of recognition, which may include but are not necessarily limited to the following: Student Co-operative funding, use of university or Co-op facilities, office space or property, bulk mailing services, and/or specified other benefits made available through recognition.

Withdrawal of University Recognition: A specified or unspecified length of time or series of conditions in which university recognition is withdrawn and cannot be regained by the organization. The organization and any semblance of its membership ceases to function at the university, is denied all benefits of university recognition, and no longer falls under the jurisdiction of the university organization judicial system. For the organization or any semblance of its membership to regain university recognition, it may be asked to demonstrate evidence of organizational changes intended to eliminate the potential for repeated violations of this policy.

Mitigating or aggravating circumstances may be considered in order to fashion an appropriate sanction.